Unemployment in Matagorda County, Texas, is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties
In Matagorda County, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 85% of U.S. counties.
What drives Matagorda County's score
In Matagorda County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 82.1. About three in ten renters (29.7%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 96% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 76.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Matagorda County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Matagorda County does better than most counties on one measure: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (46.8, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 82.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent29.7% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.5% · fiscal year 202767th percentile
-
- 76.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202690th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.8% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
-
- 76.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.9% · August 202583rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.9% · August 202559th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score53.3% · second quarter of 202686th percentile
-
- 70.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.8% · 202463rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line22.9% · 202475th percentile
- People with a disability17.5% · 2020 to 202463rd percentile
- People without health insurance17.9% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$65,319 · 202454th percentile
-
- 49.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector37.5% · August 202590th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people46.8 · 20258th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Matagorda County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Matagorda County, 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Matagorda County had its largest rise, from 12.2% in 1989 to 18.1% in 1994.
In Matagorda County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Matagorda County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Matagorda County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 16.3% in 2021 to 19.3% in 2022.
The share of households in Matagorda County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2022 and has since fallen to 17.0%
Low on the chart: 12.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Matagorda County, Texas.
How Matagorda County has changed
Matagorda County's population rose most sharply after its 1974 low, from 28,629 in 1974 to 36,306 in 1979.
Matagorda County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 8% since
High on the chart: 39,648 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Matagorda County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Matagorda County had its largest drop, from 11,528 in 2000 to 10,230 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Matagorda County fell 5% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 10,199 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Matagorda County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.4% | 2025 5.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 18.9% | 2024 14.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,282 | 2024 $65,319 |
The table uses 5.8% for 2025; the score uses 5.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Matagorda County's history
1967
A tornado in September 1967 killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1969
A tornado in April 1969 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1987
A thunderstorm in November 1987 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1987
A thunderstorm in November 1987 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 37,957. The 2020 Census counted 36,255, 96% of the peak. Census Bureau
-
Since 1967
29 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Matagorda County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Matagorda County beside its neighbors
Matagorda County scores higher than all four counties that border it. Of the group, Matagorda County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (28.6%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County, TX | 85 | 14.8% | 28.6% |
| Jackson County, TX | 65 | 14.3% | 26.6% |
| Wharton County, TX | 64 | 14.6% | 27.0% |
| Brazoria County, TX | 47 | 9.1% | 16.9% |
| Calhoun County, TX | 44 | 14.5% | 26.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Matagorda County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Matagorda County's poverty rate was 14.8% in 2024, 123rd highest of 254 in Texas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Starr County, at 35.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Matagorda County ranks 39th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Matagorda County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Lone Star Legal Aid
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Matagorda County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Matagorda County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.